Author Topic: Amazon free shipping baseline quietly bumped. (Read 6571 times)

Brad Johnson · « **on:** February 23, 2016, 02:20:59 PM »

Doing some shopping today and noticed Amazon's purchase floor for free shipping is now $49. I'm sure it's probably old news to Amazon shopping gurus but to occasional purchasers like me it's a surprise.

Consider yourself informed.

Brad

Doggy Daddy · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2016, 02:24:30 PM »

Quote from: Brad Johnson on February 23, 2016, 02:20:59 PM

I'm sure it's probably old news to Amazon shopping gurus but to occasional purchasers like me it's a surprise.

Consider yourself informed.

Brad

Not old news at all. It was on the news this morning as I was getting ready for work.

birdman · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2016, 02:28:25 PM »

Also, I can't seem to get next day...
Items will say "delivery by tomorrow" when searching, but then on the item, earliest is two day...anyone know why?

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2016, 02:30:35 PM »

Quote from: birdman on February 23, 2016, 02:28:25 PM

Also, I can't seem to get next day...
Items will say "delivery by tomorrow" when searching, but then on the item, earliest is two day...anyone know why?

The tricky machinations of Ted Cruz, I shouldn't wonder.

Also, I found this when Goooooogling:

http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/19175.html

cordex · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2016, 04:51:49 PM »

Quote from: birdman on February 23, 2016, 02:28:25 PM

Also, I can't seem to get next day...
Items will say "delivery by tomorrow" when searching, but then on the item, earliest is two day...anyone know why?

I saw that too. I wanted to see if their minimums for same day/next day delivery had changed but couldn't find anything. Weird.

Andiron · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2016, 05:11:16 PM »

Move to push everyone towards Prime

birdman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2016, 07:27:52 AM »

Quote from: Andiron on February 23, 2016, 05:11:16 PM

Move to push everyone towards Prime

I have prime.

charby · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2016, 08:04:34 AM »

Dollar is getting stronger, imports cost more. Need to make profits somewhere.

makattak · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2016, 08:19:08 AM »

Quote from: charby on February 24, 2016, 08:04:34 AM

Dollar is getting stronger, imports cost more.

Err... that's not how it works...

roo_ster · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2016, 08:32:53 AM »

Quote from: birdman on February 24, 2016, 07:27:52 AM

I have prime.

Yes, indeed. Like I have time to keep up with all the school-related deals like "Dr Seuss Day: Dress Up Like Your Favorite Seuss Character!" and track down two wigs of blue crazy hair when the kiddos want to go as Thing 1 and Thing 2.

HankB · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2016, 09:09:30 AM »

I placed an Amazon order on Feb 18 for "in stock" merchandise, and here it is Feb 24 and it hasn't shipped yet.

Hmmm . . .

Brad Johnson · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2016, 12:10:39 PM »

Quote from: HankB on February 24, 2016, 09:09:30 AM

I placed an Amazon order on Feb 18 for "in stock" merchandise, and here it is Feb 24 and it hasn't shipped yet.

Hmmm . . .

That's become the norm for my orders. Frustrating as hell.

Brad

makattak · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2016, 01:47:55 PM »

Quote from: Brad Johnson on February 24, 2016, 12:10:39 PM

That's become the norm for my orders. Frustrating as hell.

Brad

I'm guessing it's because you haven't purchased expedited shipping, and, as a low priority, they pull all the 1-day and 2-day shipping order first.

If they say 4-5 business days, you shouldn't be surprised when it takes 7-10 days.

I'll often take the "no-rush shipping" if it's an item I don't need immediately and it will take about a week to get it. I expect that since it was "no rush" unlike my normal Prime 2-day items.

KD5NRH · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2016, 02:30:27 PM »

Quote from: makattak on February 24, 2016, 01:47:55 PM

I'm guessing it's because you haven't purchased expedited shipping, and, as a low priority, they pull all the 1-day and 2-day shipping order first.

I have trouble believing that it really makes that much difference when there's a steady stream of orders coming through 24x7. It's not like a 8-5 M-F business where there can be a Friday night shift after the sales floor closes down to catch up on all the lower priority orders.

What gets me is the number of times I've ordered something (using Prime) with 2-day shipping, ordered before noon, and they still wait until the next day and then have to overnight it. Seems like fulfillment needs to be a bit more efficient when the difference between 2-day and overnight shipping is likely more than a pick-pack-and-label employee costs per hour. I've also had two similar items (left and right of some lightweight car part, IIRC) ship from the same warehouse in separate boxes a few hours apart. One arrived a day early, (oddly, the one shipped last) and it was pretty obvious both would have fit in its box and most likely not cost any more to ship both that way than either one separately.

RevDisk · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2016, 03:41:58 PM »

Wait, there's people that don't have Prime?!

Scout26 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2016, 03:53:13 PM »

Quote from: RevDisk on February 24, 2016, 03:41:58 PM

Wait, there's people that don't have Prime?!

[Waves Hand] No, I don't. I don't order enough via Amazon to justify it. I purchase most things at brick and mortar because A) I like to hold in my hands and see what it is, because I hate having to pay for shipping both ways, and B) I hate paying shipping. Yes, I know it's built into the price at the B&M stores, but normally is a much smaller percentage of the cost then a one off sent UPS.

I will order books, simply because well they are books. Not some gizmo that may or may not be the right size, shape, color, voltage, etc. that I will have to send back.

makattak · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2016, 04:02:08 PM »

Quote from: scout26 on February 24, 2016, 03:53:13 PM

[Waves Hand] No, I don't. I don't order enough via Amazon to justify it. I purchase most things at brick and mortar because A) I like to hold in my hands and see what it is, because I hate having to pay for shipping both ways, and B) I hate paying shipping. Yes, I know it's built into the price at the B&M stores, but normally is a much smaller percentage of the cost then a one off sent UPS.

I will order books, simply because well they are books. Not some gizmo that may or may not be the right size, shape, color, voltage, etc. that I will have to send back.

Prime has free return shipping and a relatively hassle free process.

For example, I didn't remove a large box (actually a box of boxes) of Triscuits from my monthly subscription in time and so I needed to return it. In terms of hassle, they refunded my money and said not to worry about shipping it back.

THAT'S hassle-free.

(I've also done actual returns where they will email you the shipping label, you slap it back on the package and drop it at one of the return locations- I believe the most recent one was at a Staples.)

charby · « **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2016, 04:42:56 PM »

Quote from: makattak on February 24, 2016, 08:19:08 AM

Err... that's not how it works...

I know but it makes sense with China's economic policy.

Fly320s · « **Reply #18 on:** February 24, 2016, 09:01:58 PM »

Has Amazon made a yearly profit yet?

BlueStarLizzard · « **Reply #19 on:** February 24, 2016, 09:38:53 PM »

I don't have prime. I order stuff from Amazon maybe two or three times a year, tops.

Hawkmoon · « **Reply #20 on:** February 24, 2016, 10:14:57 PM »

Quote from: RevDisk on February 24, 2016, 03:41:58 PM

Wait, there's people that don't have Prime?!

What's Prime?

Ben · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2016, 10:42:23 PM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on February 24, 2016, 10:14:57 PM

What's Prime?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKYQ5ibxslI

HeroHog · « **Reply #22 on:** February 24, 2016, 11:18:08 PM »

Prime ROCKS! Most of my stuff gets here FAST.

K Frame · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2016, 09:02:21 AM »

Yep, very happy with Prime, too.

Anyone know if they've ever released the third season of Boardwalk Empire?

Marnoot · « **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2016, 12:16:02 PM »

Quote from: Fly320s on February 24, 2016, 09:01:58 PM

Has Amazon made a yearly profit yet?

Looking at the company as a whole, no. Good detailed explanations of why, and why that's not a problem:

http://ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2014/9/4/why-amazon-has-no-profits-and-why-it-works

Much lighter reading:

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2015/10/30/big-companies-without-profits-amazon-twitter-uber-and-other-big-names-that-dont.html

Short of it is, they have plenty of operating cash flow but they plow it all back into capital expenses, growing the company.

Looking at the company's different divisions, some show quite a profit; their AWS arm as an example.

News:

Author Topic: Amazon free shipping baseline quietly bumped. (Read 6571 times)